h. In twenty-five months the furniture's ourn. An'
remember, Saxon, you wanta buy everything you want, no matter how much
it costs. No scrimpin' on what's for you an' me. Get me?"

She nodded, with no betrayal on her face of the myriad secret economies
that filled her mind. A hint of moisture glistened in her eyes.

"You're so good to me, Billy," she murmured, as she came to him and was
met inside his arms.

"So you've gone an' done it," Mary commented, one morning in the
laundry. They had not been at work ten minutes ere her eye had glimpsed
the topaz ring on the third finger of Saxon's left hand. "Who's the
lucky one? Charley Long or Billy Roberts?"

"Billy," was the answer.

"Huh! Takin' a young boy to raise, eh?"

Saxon showed that the stab had gone home, and Mary was all contrition.

"Can't you take a josh? I'm glad to death at the news. Billy's a awful
good man, and I'm glad to see you get him. There ain't many like him
knockin' 'round, an' they ain't to be had for the askin'. An' you're
both lucky. You was just made for each other, an' you'll make him a
better wife than any girl I know. When is it to be?"

Going home from the laundry a few days later, Saxon encountered Charley
Long. He blocked the sidewalk, and compelled speech with her.

"So you're runnin' with a prizefighter," he sneered. "A blind man can
see your finish."

For the first time she was unafraid of this big-bodied, black-browed men
with the hairy-matted hands and fingers. She held up her left hand.

"See that? It's something, with all your strength, that you could never
put on my finger. Billy Roberts put it on inside a week. He got your
number, Charley Long, and at the same time he got me."

"Skiddoo for you," Long retorted. "Twenty-three's your number."

"He's not like you," Saxon went on. "He's a man, every bit of him, a
fine, clean man."

Long laughed hoarsely.

"He's got your goat all right."

"And yours," she flashed back.

"I could tell you things about him. Saxon, straight, he ain't no good.
If I was to tell you--"

"You'd better get out of my way," she interrupted, "or I'll tell him,
and you know what you'll get, you great big bully."

Long shuffled uneasily, then reluctantly stepped aside.

"You're a caution," he said, half admiringly.

"So's Billy Roberts," she laughed, and continued on her way. After half
a dozen steps she stopped. "Say," she called.

The big blacksmith turned toward her with eagerness.

"A